BERKLEY -- Woodward Avenue was a two-track dirt road when the Vinsetta Garage opened to service horse-drawn carriages and Model Ts circa 1919.

Now old M-1 is a national scenic byway that draws 30,000 classic car owners for the Woodward Dream Cruise, but the 91-year-old repair shop is no longer one of its landmark businesses.

Last week owner Jack Marwil, 54, of Berkley closed the business with its art deco sign and vintage gasoline pumps to pursue his own 30-year dream to go to law school.

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"It was the oldest family-owned auto repair facility east of the Mississippi," Marwil said. "The decision to close was an arduous, lengthy, painful decision for me. It's a recognition of where I am at in my life and the recent loss of my wife, Mary Kay. That really altered my thinking."

Mary Kay Stark-Marwil died from breast cancer on Oct. 1. She was 58.

On Friday, Marwil struck a deal with Rick Kilbourn, the owner of Fourth Street Auto Repair, Royal Oak, to take over Vinsetta Garage's assets and estimated 1,500 to 1,800 customers.

"They will have continuity of care and no issues with their warranties. Their vehicle histories will be in his possession," Marwil said. "This is similar to selling a medical practice. You want a good fit with personality and capability. Rick is highly regarded."

Kilbourn said about 15 percent of the Vinsetta Garage clients have classic cars and his staff will do their best to keep them road-worthy.

"We may be limited on some things, like the heavy engine rebuilding they did at the Vinsetta Garage," Kilbourn said. "Eighty-five percent of that business was just drivability. We know that. We've been around since 1973."

Marwil said he offered the business to his six employees, but there were no takers. He gave them time to find new jobs and then closed Nov. 30. He plans to attend law school at Wayne State University after running the Vinsetta Garage since 1985.

"I've been in this line of work for 37 years," Marwil said. "It was a great job but then I had a huge ideological change. I'm not getting any younger. I plan to go to Wayne if they will have me. I'm ready for the staggering reading load."